AFL trade news, analysis: Port Adelaide’s interest in Josh Dunkley confirmed
Port Adelaide has joined the list of suitors for Western Bulldogs star Josh Dunkley and holds a trump card Victorian clubs can’t match.
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Port Adelaide’s short-term focus will be on finishing the minor round with three wins but external attention now turns to what the club does at the end of the season.
With Power leaders insisting Ken Hinkley is still the man for the job, there will be scrutiny on how to fix a team that has slumped from consecutive preliminary finals to miss the top eight.
All while spruiking its ambition to win the premiership amid a strategic plan that includes aiming to capture three flags by 2025.
To improve its list, Port Adelaide wants a classy forward, midfield depth and a key defender.
The Power is keen on Western Bulldogs on-baller Josh Dunkley, who is out of contract and whose partner, Tippah Dwan, plays netball for Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Dunkley is reported to have an offer from the Dogs in front of him and is being courted by Essendon.
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The 25-year-old would add quality and hardness to the Power’s midfield ranks, and could rotate at half-forward, a spot that had been troublesome for the club this season.
Port Adelaide is understood to not be in the race for GWS players Tim Taranto or Jacob Hopper, or SA-born Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy.
Asked after Saturday’s six-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG how much change was needed to the Power’s squad before next season, veteran Travis Boak told News Corp: “Honestly, I’m not thinking about that right now”.
“That’ll be a discussion for the end of the season,” Boak said.
“Right now our focus is on this group and finishing off the rest of the year.”
But Boak backed close friend and long-time teammate Robbie Gray to play on, saying he had no doubt the four-time All-Australian another year left in him.
Gray and the club are holding off on making a call about whether he continues.
His 2022 season has been hampered by a knee issue suffered against Brisbane in round 1.
“I don’t know if that’s because I’m a close mate or not but I honestly believe he’s still got plenty left,” Boak said.
“He’s had his challenges with his knee this year and that interrupts a lot of your performance and mentally makes it a little bit tougher.
“He’s had to deal with that (injury) the whole year and has done a bloody good job to do it.
“Before that his pre-season was unbelievable and the Robbie Gray that we know.
“When he’s had a run at it, his performances have been really good.”
Hawthorn looks set to secure wingman Karl Amon as a free agent, which may trigger a draft pick at the end of the first round as compensation for the Power.
Veteran Steven Motlop is heading for the exit door, along with defender Sam Skinner, while midfielder Trent Dumont is likely to get a new deal.
Boak was optimistic that the club, which was 11th with an 8-11 record at present, could bounce back into contention next year.
“We have a good side,” he said.
“We haven’t been consistent enough to match it with the best sides but I have no doubt this group is a very good side and can certainly match it with the best.
“But we have so much to work on.
“The two years before this we were playing some really good footy and I don’t think we’re that far off, but we’re not consistently doing it for long enough.
“Collingwood, Melbourne, Geelong, we want to compete with them but need to do it for longer.”
Saturday’s loss left the Power with a 2-7 record this season in games decided by 12 points or fewer.
It was 5-0 in 2021, on its way to a preliminary final.
“We were probably on the other end of it last year,” Boak said.
“The word people use is luck, but I’m not sure if it’s that.
“We spoke about a little bit of polish in those situations, that’s when it really comes to the fore.
“There’s little contests throughout the game and towards the end of the game that you’ve just got to win, and we just haven’t been able to do that well this year.
“We’ve pressed really hard and probably dominated a lot of the quarter, but the finish has let us down.”
Port Adelaide’s inside-50 efficiency had been a huge issue for it all season and was again on Saturday.
Put simply, the Power’s delivery to and connection with its forwards is second-rate.
Moving Connor Rozee and Zak Butters to the midfield, missing Orazio Fantasia to injury and Motlop’s form struggles have hurt, particularly because several others have not filled the void.
Much of the recent load has been carried admirably by workhorses Sam Powell-Pepper and Lachie Jones, neither of whom are neat kicks.
“That’s been a real challenge for us, our composure with the ball around the ground and certainly going inside 50,” Boak said.
“We’ve spoken about it, we’re working on it really hard and we’ve still got a fair bit of work to do.
“Most of our game is clicking really well and it’s just a bit of polish letting us down.
“That’s understanding what’s around you during games and with our young guys, that comes with experience that you do have a bit more time and with senior players to keep talking and encouraging to be brave with the footy.
“If you want to beat the best sides in the competition, you’ve got to be good in all areas.”
Boak said he was not thinking about the fact the club would again fall short in its goal to win a premiership.
But the reality of another chance slipping away is particularly pertinent to the Power’s 30-something stars Boak, Gray, captain Tom Jonas and spearhead Charlie Dixon.
“Right now, it’s not on my mind,” Boak said.
“Right now, I’m focused on recovery, getting back out there again and being a good teammate.
“All of us (in the side) are in that same boat.”
Boak did not expect the club would play more youngsters in the remaining matches, saying it would pick the best possible team.
“I don’t care mathematically or not, the last three weeks are very important for us,” he said.
“As a side, we’ll stick at it and give ourselves the best chance to perform and win.
“Regardless of whether we can make finals or not, we’ll turn up and give everything for this footy club.
“That’s all we’re focusing on.”
The performance of fifth-game father-son draftee Jase Burgoyne was a huge plus for the Power on Saturday, continuing an impressive start to his career.
Burgoyne — the son of Port Adelaide premiership star Peter Burgoyne and nephew of Indigenous games record holder Shaun — is built like a matchstick but plays as if he does not have a pulse.
He is rarely flustered, even under immense pressure.
Whether in defence to control a bobbling ball while a tackler approaches or kicking the first goal of his career from 45m in the dying stages on Saturday to narrow the margin to a goal.
“He’s a Burgoyne, that’s how they’re built,” Boak said.
“I don’t know if it’s relaxed, composed, laconic — they play with so much poise.
“It’s amazing, he’s only played a few games and his level of calmness with the ball is so good.
“To have him kick his first goal today was really special.”
The other special part of the day for Boak was celebrating Jonas and Wines’ 200th games.
Jonas and Wines have been long-time teammates, former co-captains, close friends and heartbeats of the side under Hinkley.
“Regardless of the result, it’s obviously a memorable day for them,” Boak said.
“I’m proud to say I’ve played alongside those two and had those two as leaders of our footy club.
“Those two have been amazing for our footy club.
“TJ said (post-game) he was proud of the effort again and the contest we put in for him.
“It was disappointing to not come away winners for those two boys, they’ve led this footy club so well over the last few years.”
Hinkley concedes Power’s ‘grim’ season is over
– Marc McGowan
A disappointed Ken Hinkley bemoaned Port Adelaide blowing another matchwinning position on Saturday against Collingwood that as good as seals the club’s finals fate.
Hinkley, in his 10th year in charge of the Power, said even he conceded his side was in a “grim” situation as its chase for a September berth effectively ends after a horror 0-5 start.
This latest six-point defeat to the Pies was Port’s seventh loss by 12 points or fewer in nine games this season, after it led by 24 points before quarter-time.
“It’s absolutely another one (wasted). It’s the season that we’ve had this year. It’s been close but not good enough, and that’s exactly what’s happened,” Hinkley said.
“Our results that we’ve not been able to win have put us clearly where we are, but they’ve been games that you think you can win but we haven’t delivered on it.
“I don’t want to look back on this season right now. I want to look forward to what’s still to be played out for us. There are three more games (but) it’s in a pretty grim way.
“I’ve been really optimistic all the way through but even I’m stretched to be like that. The reality is for us now that the next three weeks are really important to how we finish the year and that’s what we’re chasing.”
Hinkley found positives in Connor Rozee’s latest starring role with a career-high 35 disposals, as well as fifth-gamer Jase Burgoyne’s cool set shot that slashed the deficit to six points with a minute to go.
But he said his players’ continual failure to deliver when required this season was on him.
“I’m not frustrated. I’m disappointed in what we’ve been able to deliver – and that’s my responsibility,” Hinkley said.
“I’ve had a habit of being true in my word and that is you are where you are, and so we’re not good enough to play finals this year.
“Are we good enough to compete with the best teams in the competition? That is clear, we are. But we haven’t been good enough to play finals this year.”
Travis Boak told medical staff before halftime that he feared he may have broken his left hand but he played out the match with strapping on it, giving Hinkley hope he had avoided a minor fracture.
Hinkley will again assess the merits of his makeshift ruck combination of Jeremy Finlayson and Charlie Dixon in Scott Lycett’s absence, with Brynn Teakle and Sam Hayes still a chance to play again this season.
Port season done as Magpies extend miracle run
Make that 10.
Collingwood’s extraordinary winning streak under first-year coach Craig McRae rages on and the club is now certain of finals action one season after finishing second-from-bottom.
After trailing Port Adelaide by four goals before quarter-time, the AFL’s comeback kings rallied to be ahead by halftime, then withstood a late Power surge to win by six points at the MCG.
Jase Burgoyne, son of Port Adelaide great Peter, put through a nerve-free finish with barely a minute left, and the Power went forward again but a free kick and 50m penalty to the Pies sealed the result.
Seven of Collingwood’s 10 victories in that span were single-digit margins, including Jamie Elliott’s after-the-siren matchwinner last week, with another decided by 11 points.
Port, on the other hand, has lost seven of nine games decided by 12 points or fewer this season.
Jordan De Goey produced an excellent display after a fortnight off with a quad injury to be the most influential player on the ground, while skipper Scott Pendlebury was also a force in the clinches.
The Magpies will try to lock in a top-four berth in the next three weeks, whereas Port Adelaide can start planning post-season holidays.
How hard Collingwood continues to making it on itself would be of some concern to McRae but it’s hard to argue with his players’ resilience.
They will have to keep winning to earn the double chance, given their percentage pales in comparison to the other contenders.
Reigning premier Melbourne, Sydney and Carlton await in a difficult but fascinating finals tune-up for the Pies.
There are some concerns for the Magpies, who subbed out prime mover Taylor Adams (groin) at halftime and put defender Jeremy Howe (corkie) on ice in the final term.
Collingwood looked set to give its fans an easier afternoon when it moved a match-high 24 points clear early in the fourth quarter, shortly after a brilliant Jamie Elliott soccer goal.
But the Power kicked four of the next five goals to threaten a boilover – and to keep its season alive – before falling agonisingly short.
HIGH OR NOT?
We already know Jack Ginnivan is a walking headline but his relationship with the umpiring fraternity also continues to be a major talking point.
The blond Pie’s ability to draw high tackles undoubtedly played a role in the AFL clarifying the rule early last week.
The message itself was clear: umpires won’t pay free kicks when the ball-carrier is responsible for the high contact.
But there is still some grey area in the adjudications, given the fraction of a second umpires have to make a call.
There were several close calls involving Ginnivan on Saturday without him receiving a free kick, and he even missed out on one when he looked to have been held on the wing just before halftime.
Either way, the 19-year-old lapped up the attention from Port Adelaide’s cheer squad, talked some smack to his opponents and helped himself to three more goals.
ARGY-BARGY BENEFITS BOAK
The first siren hadn’t even sounded when Travis Boak started lining up for the game’s first goal thanks to a free kick against Nick Daicos.
Boak not only capitalised on that set shot but again later in the opening quarter after a 50m penalty – amid another heated scuffle between the teams – brought him to the goal square.
The Port Adelaide veteran, who is set to commit for a 17th season at Alberton, had a typically productive afternoon but was also overheard telling medical staff he thought he had broken his left hand.
Boak emerged from halftime with strapping on the hand and played the match out.
SCOREBOARD
MAGPIES 4.3, 7.5, 11.8, 13.10 (88)
POWER 6.3, 6.6, 8.9, 12.10 (82)
McGOWAN’S BEST
Magpies: De Goey, J.Daicos, Pendlebury, Ginnivan, Cameron, Maynard.
Power: Rozee, Powell-Pepper, Butters, Wines, Boak, Byrne-Jones.
GOALS
Magpies: Ginnivan 3, De Goey 2, Hoskin-Elliott 2, Elliott 2, Johnson, Cox, Cameron, Carmichael.
Power: Boak 2, Powell-Pepper 2, Butters 2, Finlayson, Marshall, Amon, Dixon, Georgiades, Burgoyne.
INJURIES
Magpies: Adams (groin), Howe (hip).
Power: Boak (hand).
UMPIRES
Donlon, Heffernan, Wallace
VENUE
MCG
Don’t bring back the bars: Power denied by AFL, Pies again
Port Adelaide will be denied the chance to wear its prison-bar jumper in round 23 but remains hopeful it can still broker a deal with the AFL to wear the historic strip once a season from next year onwards.
The Power had been hopeful soft diplomacy could resolve the longstanding impasse after the Herald Sun revealed last month an official request had been made for the home round 23 clash against Adelaide.
But Collingwood has made it clear it is not prepared to bend its long-held objection to Port Adelaide wearing its colours for a game that takes place in only weeks.
Pies president Jeff Browne told the Herald Sun on Friday there was no change to the current stance that prevented the Power from wearing the jumper in round 23.
The AFL said on Friday: “(Port Adelaide) have a submission in and we haven’t considered it yet”.
But the league is expected to focus its efforts on a deal for future seasons rather than round 23 if it can get Port Adelaide and the Pies to negotiate on the prison bar jumper.
The AFL’s view is that the two clubs will have to work out an agreement if the Power is to wear the jumper, with Port Adelaide having been threatened with the loss of premiership points if it breaks league rules.
Collingwood takes on Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday but has shown no willingness to show flexibility on the issue.
Privately the Power is bemused that so many other clubs are allowed to wear a variety of heritage jumpers that divert from their home strip multiple times a year while it cannot wear the historic jumper once a season in a home Showdown.
Collingwood legend Tony Shaw made clear earlier this month he had no issues with the Power’s request.
“How does it hurt Collingwood? How does it hurt our fans? We’re not involved in the game anyway. I love Collingwood, but how trivial is it?” he said.
But Eddie McGuire and his successor Mark Korda have been adamant only the Pies will wear black and white, with Korda stating last year: ““There is a place for only one black-and-white striped jumper in the AFL, the iconic Collingwood jumper”.
Last year the Power changed from their normal jumpers into the prison bar strip to sing the song after a Showdown win to reinforce to fans how much the traditional strip meant.
Said coach Ken Hinkley: “It‘s a show of respect for our heritage, for our past and for our great people who played in it in our past and for our people who turn up and represent this footy club. We started and we began as Port Adelaide and we still are.”
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